Fabric edge-folding and pressing device



ji zz 3-- J. SILVERMAN 2,317,817

FABRIC EDGE-FOLDING AND PRESSING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 0 kgiya. 18

f *1 1 l I I I I I a l I l J? l i I y 29 1 g I I I Q I) 12 7 M47ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STTES ATENT OFFICE FABRICEDGE-FOLDING AND PRESSING DEVICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to portable edge folding and pressing machinesbeing particularly adapted to formpatch pockets and like articles.

Machines for the above general purpose are Well known but require theuse of both hands of the operator in their operation. Such machines areusually provided with means for clamping the article Worked on entailingthe use of one operating handle and are also provided with edge foldingmeans entailing the use of another operating handle. In addition, footoperated means are provided for the application of heat and pressure.Such machines keep both hands of the operator occupied until theoperation is completed so that the handles may be released.

In the interest of expediting and speeding up the operation, the presentinvention contemplates the provision of a machine of the indicatedcharacter in which the clamping of the work and the folding of its edgesoccurs sequentially by the operation of a single handle leaving one ofthe operators hands free for preparing another piece of work for themachine.

The invention also contemplates means including the pressing parts ofthe machine for holding the machine parts in pressing relation wherebyboth hands of the operator are freed for other functions.

The invention further seeks to provide a machine of the characterindicated, of novel mechanical design and arrangement and of simplestructure.

The foregoing advantages, features, and purposes of the invention andothers which will become apparent from the following detailedspecification, are exemplified in the embodiment illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, said drawings forming the bases for saidspecification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a machine incorporating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of the machine table showing the edgefolding means.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the machine. 7

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary edge View of a portion of the edge foldingmeans.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a work blank before folding.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of said work blank after folding.

In that embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, the machinecomprises a support frame I ii for a table base plate I l which isformed with an opening l2 shaped in accordance with the shape of a workblank l3 shown in Fig. 6. This blank is somewhat larger than the openingl2 as will be later understood.

The table base plate II has superimposed upon it a table top l4, saidlatter member being pref erably spaced from the plate I! as at E5. Anopening Iii, similar to the opening I2, is provided in the table top Il. 7

The edge folding means employed in the machine is disposed between theplate II and the table top It and, in the present instance, comprisesfolding plate members ii and I3 and a pusher plate Iii. In their normalposition, as shown by the full lines of Fig. 3, the members I! and ithave their inner lateral edges 26 and 2! coincidental with the lateraledges of the openings 12 and It. The inner edges 22 and 23 of saidmembers i! and I3 are also' coincidental with the related edges of saidopenings l2 and I6.

lhe transverse leg portions 24 and 25 of the respective members I! and I8 are preferably overlapped as at 26 and each of said leg portions isreduced in thickness to provide the relatively thinner parts 27 and 28whereby they may fit in the space [5 without binding.

The folding plate members I! and [8 are preferably mounted as on studs29 carried by the table base plate ll. Said studs are engaged in camslots 3!] which guide the movement of the plate members as will be laterdescribed. Spring means, such as shown at 3|, are provided for urgingthe plate members into the normal position shown in Fig. 3.

The pusher plate i9 is preferably guided on guide studs 32 carried bythe base plate H, said studs being engaged in slots 33 formed in saidpusher plate. An edge of said latter plate is arranged to protrudebeyond the forward edges of the plate H and the table top it. Springmeans, such as shown at 35, may be provided for maintaining the pusherplate in projected position as shown in Fig. 3. As best seen in thisfigure, the folding plate members ii and #3 are each preferably formedwith angled comer edges 36 which are engaged by similarly angled edges37 formed on the pusher plate 59. It is evident that when the pusherplate It is, moved toward the left, the plates I? and 58 will both movetoward the left and toward each other. The dotdasht lines of Fig. 3 showthe extent of this move men Means are provided for guiding thepositioning of a work blank, such as 3, with respect to the opening inthe table top. In the present form this means comprises guide walls 38mounted on the table top as best seen in Fig. l.

The machine is provided with a work blank clamping plate 39 which alsois the member about which the edge folds are made. This plate is shapedin accordance with the shape of the openings l2 and i and is somewhatsmaller than said openings so as to more freely therethrough. The plate39 is preferably mounted upon a relatively thick metal plate 3%), whichthrough spacer blocks 4! is carried, by means such as the studs 32, by alever 53 pivoted, as at 44, to the machine frame it. Slight relativemovement is afforded between the lever 23 and the parts 39, 40 and 41 bymaking the holes 35, through which the studs 42 project, somewhatoversize as shown best in Fig. a

The free end of the lever, 63 pivotaliy carries at %6 a pusher plateoperating arm 4"! which is provided with an operating handle 38. Springmeans such as #8 is provided to hold the arm 4'! normally out ofoperating engagement with the pusher plate E9. Spring means 55 ispreferably provided for maintaining the lever 33 in an elevated positionas can be well understood. An adjustment 5! for the latter spring isprovided so that its tension may be regulated to .elevate the lever 63and yet be less than the'tension oi the spring 39. It can be seen thatby this a'rrangement, depression of the handle &3 wiil first move thelever 43 on its pivot M to clamp a work blank and that continuedmovement'of said handle will stretch the spring and bring the arm 41into operating engagement with the'pushor plate l9.

The machine is provided with means for applying heat and'pressure to thework blank. In its present form this means is preferably foot operatedas by a pedal (not shown) 'conn'ected'by a member 52 to a lever 53. Thislever 'is pivotally mounted upon a stud 5t secured 'to atransverse framemember 55. Another frame member 56 carries a stud 5'1. The studs "Hand5'! form guides for a plate 58 which is engaged by the nose 59 of thelever 53. Depressing the member 52 will cause the nose 59 to raise theplate 58, the lever '53 fulcruming on the stud St.

A pressing or ironing plate'eil is'provided, said plate being supportedupon'studsti carried by the plate 58. This condition holds true whenpressure is being applied. Normally, however,

In operation, the levers 43 and 53 both being raised, a work blank suchas I3 is placed to cover the opening IS in the table top, the walls 38guiding the positioning thereof. The handle 48 is depressed. Inasmuch asthe spring 49 is stronger than the spring 50, the lever 43 and the arm47 move as a unit until the plate 39 clamps the work blank 13 againstthe ironing plate 60 which at that time rests upon the member 55 and thestuds 62. The peripheral portions of the blank assume a, position atright angles to the body thereof because of their engagement with theedges of the openings l2 and I5. Continued pressure on the handle 48,will overcome the spring 99 to bring the arm 41 into engagement with theedge 33 0f the pusher plate l9 which is thus moved to the left as shownin Fig.2 to cause the folding plates I! and I8 to fold the mentionedperipheral blank portions about the edges of the clamp plate 39. Figs. 2and 4 show this condition. The lever 53 is then depressed by foot toraise the ironing plate upwardly against the pressure exerted on thehandle '43. This foot pressure serves to wedge the folding plates l land i8 in their contracted position whereby pressure on the handle 38may be released. So long as the foot pressure is maintained theclamping, edge folding, and pressing or ironing parts will maintaintheir positions as shown in Fig. 2 to leave both hands of the operatorfree to prepare a work blank for the next operation.

Upon release of'the foot pressure, the ironing plate will drop back toits normal supports so that the springs 3| and 35 can become effectiveto restore the folding plates to their normal retracted position. Theclamp plate 35 being released, the spring 53 becomes effective to'raiseit and the lever 43.

The work piece 13, with its edges folded about the plate 39, is raisedwith that plate and may easily be stripped therefrom. The finished'workpiece is shown at Fig. 7.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a sim ple, portable, efiicient,and compact m'acl'iine has been provided in which the objects of theinvention are realized. It also is evident that, depending upon the workto be done, changes in arrangement, design, and proportion may welloperating handle, an edge fold mechanism actuator secured tosaid handle,an operating lever pivotally carrying said actuator and said handle,aclamp plate carriedby said lever, and spring means connecting saidlever and said actuator.

JACOB SILVERMAN.

